Combination hinge and mounting bracket for a sailboat mast



A ril 21', 1970 F. w. BUTLER COMBINATION HINGE AND MOUNTING BRACKET FOR A SAILBOAT MAST Filed June 17. 1968 I N VEN TOR United States Patent O 3,507,240 COMBINATION HINGE AND MOUNTING BRACKET FOR A SAILBOAT MAST Frank W. Butler, 10354 Vanalden, Northridge, Calif. 91324 Filed June 17, 1968, Ser. No. 737,785 Int. Cl. B63b 35/00 US. Cl. 114-39 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination hinge and mounting bracket is provided for pivotally and releasably attaching the mast of a sailboat to a mast support on the boat hull. The bracket has upper and lower bracket members for attachment to the foot of the mast and to the mast support, respectively, and quick release pivot means joining the bracket members in such a way that in the event of parting of the lines which hold the mast in its erect sailing position, the mast is free to separate from and fall out of the boat without causing damage to the hull. The bracket also facilitates erection of the mast to sailing position and removal of the mast from the boat for convenience of stowage when not in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates generally to sailboats and more particularly to a novel quick release hinge and mounting bracket for pivotally and releasably attaching the mast of a sailboat to a mast support on the boat, whereby the mast is free to separate from and fall out of the boat without causing damage to the boat hull in the event of parting of the mast supporting lines, and the mast may be quickly and easily removed from the boat for convenience of storage when not in use and later installed on the boat and erected to sailing position with equal facility.

Prior art Many small and medium sized sailboats are equipped with a mast which may be lowered and/ or removed when not in use. The mast may be thus removed either to enhance the stability of the sailboat when anchored or docked or to permit overland transportation of the boat on a trailer, or the like. A cradle is often provided for supporting the mast in its stowed position. To this end, sailboats of the class described are equipped with a bracket for attaching the mast of the boat to a mast support on the boat bull in such a way as to permit rotation of the mast between its erect sailing position and a reclined position and/or removal of the mast from the mast support. The existing mast brackets are deficient in several respects. One serious deficiency of the existing brackets, for example, resides in the fact that they embody a pinned or other positive connection between the mast and boat hull. As a consequence, if the mast falls due to parting of the lines which hold the mast in its erect sailing position, the boat hull is often severely damaged. Other disadvantages of these brackets reside in their complexity, excessive cost, and difliculty of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved combined hinge and mounting bracket for the mast of sailboats of the class described. This bracket is characterized by a unique quick release action which permits the mast to be quickly and easily installed on and removed from the boat hull and, more important, which permits the mast to freely separate from the hull in the event that the mast falls due to parting of the lines which hold the mast in erect sailing position. The possibility of the hull incurring ice damage in such event is thereby minimized. In general terms, the present mast bracket may be described as having a lower bracket member with a mounting base for attachment to the mast support, an upper bracket member with a coupling means for attachment to the foot of the mast, and quick release pivot means joining the members. The quick release pivot means are uniquely constructed andarranged to permit the mast to freely separate from the mast support without damaging the hull in the event the mast falls due to parting of its supporting lines. Moreover, the mast can be quickly and easily attached to the mast support for rotation to its erect position. The mast may be lowered to a reclined position and then removed from the mast support with equal facility. According to additional features of the invention, the bracket members are provided with coacting quick release means for locking the mast, when in sailing position, against rotation about its longitudinal axis and the foot of the mast against lateral movement in all directions under the action of torsional and lateral loads exerted on the mast during sailing.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention the lower member of the present mast bracket includes a pair of longitudinal base flanges which rise from the mounting base of the member and are laterally spaced to define an intervening channel. Supported by and extending across the channel between these base flanges is a pivot member or shaft. The upper bracket member has a depending flange-like tongue which is laterally dimensioned to fit slideably within the channel between the base flanges. Entering the lower edge of this tongue, adjacent one of its ends, is a slot for receiving the pivot shaft when the slotted end of the tongue is inserted edgewise into the mounting base channel with the mast supported in a reclined attitude.

Attachment of the mast to the mast support is quickly and easily accomplished by supporting the mast in its reclined attitude and moving the mast longitudinally in a direction of the mast support in such a way as to insert the slotted end of the tongue flange on the upper bracket member edgewise into the base channel in the lower bracket member. The tongue flange is thus inserted into the channel to a position wherein the pivot shaft on the lower bracket member enters and engages the bottom of the tongue flange slot. The mast is then erected to sailing position by rotating the mast upwardly about the pivot shaft. When the mast is fully erected, the entire length of the tongue flange engages within the base channel to firmly lock the mast against rotation about its longitudinal axis and to lock the foot of the mast against lateral movement in a transverse direction of the base channel under the action of forces exerted on the mast during sailing. According to a further feature of the invention, the bracket members are provided with thrust means which interengage along the longitudinal axis of the mast when the latter is erected to lock the foot of the mast against lateral movement in the longitudinal direction of the base channel. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, for example, these interengaging thrust means comprise a thrust shaft supported by and extending between the mounting base flanges and a second slot in the tongue flange, on the longitudinal axis of the mast, for receiving the thrust shaft. Other features of the invention reside in the fact that the foot of the mast may be adjusted relative to the mast support in the fore and aft direction of the sailboat, and the angle of the mast relative to the vertical may vary to a limited range when the mast is fully erected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a sailboat embodying an improved mast hinge and mounting bracket according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the sailboat in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the boat hull in FIGURE 2 with a portion of the hull broken away to expose the foot of the mast and the mast bracket;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 44 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken on line 55 in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a section taken on line 66 in FIG- URE 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a sailboat 10 having a mast 12 and a hull 14 providing a mast support 16. The present invention provides a combined hinge and mounting bracket 18 for attaching the mast to the mast support in such a way that the mast may be rotated between its erect sailing position, illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 1, and a reclined position, illustrated in broken lines in FIGURE 1. Also, the mast may be quickly and easily disengaged from and reengaged with the mast support.

In general terms, the mast bracket 18 has upper and lower bracket members 20 and 22 and quick release pivot means 24 joining the members on a pivot axis a. The upper bracket member 20 has coupling means 26 for attachment to the foot of the mast 12. The lower bracket member 22 has a mounting base 28 for attachment to the mast support 16. As will appear presently, the pivot means 24 are uniquely constructed and arranged to permit quick and easy disengagement of the mast 12 from and reengagement of the mast with the mast support 16. The bracket members also embody coacting means 30 for locking the mast 12, when in its erect sailing position, against rotation about its longitudinal axis b and for locking the foot of the mast against lateral movement in all directions under torsional and lateral loads exerted on the mast during sailing.

Referring now in greater detail to the embodiment of the invention which has been selected for illustration in the drawings, the sailboat mast 12 comprises a metallic tube which may be extruded. This tube has the cross section best illustrated in FIGURE 6 which defines, along the aft side of the mast, a longitudinal channel or guideway 31 for slideably receiving interfitting lugs stitched to the leading edge of the mainsail s of the sailboat, such that this sail may be raised and lowered. The upper member 20 of the mast bracket 18 comprises a metallic part which may be cast, machined, or otherwise fabricated. The mast coupling means 26 on this part comprises an upstanding shoulder or flange 32 which is externally contoured and dimensioned to fit snugly in the foot of the mast tube 12. The upper bracket member 20 also has a rearwardly projecting lug 34 which extends rearwardly through a cut-out or slot in the foot of the mast tube. The mast and upper bracket member may be welded together or otherwise rigidly joined. When the upper bracket member and mast are thus assembled, the longitudinal axis 12 coincides with a coupling axis of the coupling means 26.

Rigidly joined to and depending from the underside of the upper bracket member 20 is a flange-like tongue 38. Ihis tongue is located in a plane containing the projecting lug 34 of the upper bracket member 20 and the common longitudinal axis of the mast 12 and the mast coupling 26. Tongue 38 has a rounded lower edge 40. Entering this lower edge, adjacent the aft end of the tongue, is a slot 42 which terminates in a rounded end wall 44. A second slot 46 enters the lower edge 40 of the tongue 38 on the axis 12.

The lower bracket member 22 also comprises a metallic part which may be cast, machined, or otherwise fabricated. The mounting base 28 of this bracket member has the shape of a flat rectangular plate. Extending through the base plate are a number of holes for receiving fasteners 48, such as screws. The undersurface of the base plate 28 seats against the mast support 16 which, in this instance, is furnished by the bottom wall of the sailboat hull 14. The screws 48 are threaded into the hull to firmly secure the lower bracket member 22 to the hull.

Inwardly joined to and rising from the upper surface of the lower bracket base plate 28 are a pair of spaced parallel base flanges 50. Flanges 50 define therebetween an intervening base channel 52. The lower bracket member 22 is secured to the sailboat hull 14 in such a way that the base flanges 50 extend in the fore and aft direction of the hull. Extending through the base flanges 50 are a number of holes 54. The corresponding holes in the two flanges are aligned. A pivot shaft 56 and a thrust shaft 58 extend through aligned holes in the base flanges and across the intervening base channel 52. The pivot shaft and thrust shaft have enlarged heads at one end and removable cotter pins 60 at the other end for locking the shafts against axial separation from the base flanges 50. The shafts may be shifted from one set of flange holes 54 by removal of the cotter pins 60. The spacing between the base flange holes 54- is such that insertion of the shafts through certain of the holes 10- cates the shafts properly for engagement in the slots 42, 46 in the tongue 38 of the upper bracket member 20.

Assume now that the mast 12 is removed from the mast support 16 and is to be installed on the boat and erected for sailing. This is accomplished by supporting the mast in its broken line reclined position of FIGURE 1, wherein the front end of the mast is located forwardly and adjacent the mast support 16. The mast is then moved longitudinally toward the mast support in such a way as to insert the slotted end of the upper bracket tongue 38, that is, the end of the tongue containing the pivot slot 42, edgewise into the rear end of the mounting base channel 52 to the position of FIGURE 4. In this position, the pivot shaft 56 enters and engages the bottom wall 44 of the pivot slot 42. It should be noted here that the base channel 52 is laterally dimensioned to receive the upper bracket tongue 38 with a relatively close sliding fit, such that the tongue can be easily inserted edgewise into and removed from the channel and yet is restrained against any appreciable lateral play within the channel. After initial engagement of the pivot shaft 56 in the pivot slot 42 in the manner just explained, the mast 12 is rotated upwardly about the pivot shaft to its full line sailing position illustrated in the drawings. In this sailing position, the full length of the upper bracket tongue 38 engages in the lower base channel 52 to lock the mast against rotation about its longitudinal axis b and the foot of the mast against lateral movement in the transverse direction of the channel under torsional and lateral loads exerted on the mast during sailing. Moreover, in the erect position of the mast 12, the thrust shaft 58 enters the tongue slot 46 to lock the foot of the mast against lateral movement in the longitudinal direction of the base channel 52, and hence in the fore and aft direction of the sailboat 10, under the action of fore and aft sailing loads on the mast.

When the mast .12 is fully erected, the lower edge 40 of the upper bracket tongue 38 rests on the base plate 28 in the region between the base flanges 50 to vertically support the weight of the mast. The curvature of the tongue edge 40 accommodates initial rotation of the mast to and from its sailing position, about the pivot axis 56, as well as fore and aft rocking of the mast to either side of the vertical, when the mast is fully erected. Being located on the mast center line b, the thrust shaft 58 and its receiving tongue slot 46 remain in interengaging relation to resist fore and aft loads on the mast throughout this range of rocking movement of the mast in its erected position. After the mast is erected to its desired sailing position, it is secured in this position by lines L extending between the hull 14 and a point adjacent the upper end of the mast, as shown. The mast is lowered and removed by reversing the mast erection procedure, just explained. Limited adjustment of the mast in the fore and aft direction of the sailboat is accomplished by shifting the positions of the pivot shaft 56 and thrust shaft 58 along the base flanges 50. This is accomplished by removing the cotter pins 60 from these shafts and inserting the shafts in other holes 54 of the flanges.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the present mast bracket does not provide a positive connection between the mast and hull. As a consequence, the mast may freely separate from the hull without damage to the hull in the event that the mast falls due to parting of its lines L.

What is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. A combination hinge and mounting bracket for the mast of a sailboat having a mast support, comprising:

a lower bracket member including a mounting base for attachment to said mast support;

an upper bracket member including a mast coupling for attachment to the foot of said mast in such a way that the longitudinal center line of said mast coincides with an axis of said coupling;

coacting quick release pivot means on said bracket members supporting said upper member on said lower member for rotation of said upper member relative to said lower member about a pivot axis between an erect sailing position wherein said coupling axis is normally generally vertical and a reclined position wherein said coupling axis is disposed in a reclined attitude;

said coacting pivot means permitting free separation of said bracket members by relative movement of said members laterally of said pivot axis; and

thrust means for locking said bracket members against relative movement laterally of one another when said coupling axis is in said normally generally vertical position.

2. A combination hinge and mounting bracket for the mast of a sailboat having a mast support, comprising:

a lower bracket member including a mounting base far attachment to said mast support;

an upper bracket member including a mast coupling for attachment to the foot of said mast in such a way that the longitudinal center line of said mast coincides with an axis of said coupling;

coacting quick release pivot means on said bracket members supporting said upper member on said lower member for rotation of said upper member relative to said lower member about a pivot axis between an erect sailing position wherein said coupling axis is normally generally vertical and a reclined position wherein said coupling axis is disposed in a reclined attitude;

said coacting pivot means permitting free separation of said bracket members by relative movement of said members laterally of said pivot axis; and

said coacting pivot means comprising a pivot member carried by one of said bracket members on said pivot axis, and a slot in the other bracket member receiving said pivot member and terminating in an end bearing wall engaging said pivot member, whereby said upper bracket member is removable from said lower bracket member by movement of said upper bracket member away from said lower bracket member in a direction parallel to said slot.

3. A mast bracket according to claim 2 wherein: said slot extends parallel to said coupling axis.

4. A combination hinge and mounting bracket for the mast of a sailboat having a mast support, comprising:

a lower bracket member including a mounting base for attachment to said mast support;

an upper bracket member including a mast coupling for attachment to the foot of said mast in such a way that the longitudinal center line of said mast coincides with an axis of said coupling;

coacting quick release pivot means on said bracket members supporting said upper member on said lower member for rotation of said upper member relative to said lower member about a pivot axis between an erect sailing position wherein said coupling axis is normally generally vertical and a reclined position wherein said coupling axis is disposed in a reclined attitude;

said coating pivot means permitting free separation of said bracket members by relative movement of said members laterally of said pivot axis; and

said coacting pivot means comprising a pair of spaced parallel flanges on one of said bracket members defining therebetween an intervening channel disposed in a plane normal to said pivot axis, a flange on the other bracket member providing a tongue fitting in said channel to restrain said upper bracket member against rotation on said coupling axis and lateral movement relative to said lower bracket member, and a pivot member extending through said flanges.

5. A mast bracket according to claim 4 wherein:

' said pair of flanges comprise upstanding base flanges on the upper side of said mounting base, and said tongue flange depends from the underside of said upper bracket member,

said pivot axis is laterally offset from said coupling axis and intersects said flanges adjacent one end of said tongue flange and the corresponding ends of said base flanges, whereby said channel contains substantially the full length of said tongue flange when said upper bracket member occupies its sailing position and said channel contains said one end only of said tongue flange when said upper bracket member occupies said reclined position, and

said pivot means comprise a pivot shaft secured to said base flanges and extending across said channel on said pivot axis, and a slot in said one end of said tongue flange and opening at one end through the bottom edge of said tongue flange and terminating at its other end in a bearing Wall engageable with said pivot shaft.

6. A mast bracket according to claim 5 wherein:

said lower bracket member further comprises a thrust member joined to said base flanges and extending across said channel, and a second slot entering the bottom edge of said tongue flange for receiving said thrust member when said upper bracket member occupies its sailing position to lock said bracket members against relative movement in the longitudinal direction of said channel,

said thrust member and second tongue slot being located substantially along said coupling axis when said upper bracket member occupies its sailing position, and

said bottom edge of said tongue flange is rounded to permit rocking of said upper bracket member through a small angle in either direction from said sailing position without disengagement of said thrust member and second slot.

7. A mast bracket according to claim 6 wherein:

said thrust member comprises a thrust shaft parallel to said pivot shaft, and

said base flanges have a number of holes spaced therealong with the corresponding holes in the two base flanges being aligned to selectively receive said pivot and thrust shafts, whereby said shafts may be adjusted along said base flanges.

8. A mast bracket according to claim 1 wherein:

said mast comprises a tube, and

said coupling means are externally contoured and di mentioned to be pressed into the foot end of said mast tube.

9. In combination:

a sailboat having a hull providing a mast support;

a mast; and

a combination hinge and mounting bracket means for securing the foot of said mast to said mast support including a lower bracket member secured to said mast support, an upper bracket member secured to the foot of said mast, and coacting quick release pivot means on said bracket members pivotally join ing said members for rotation of said mast between an erect sailing position and a reclined position and free separation of said mast from said mast support by longitudinal movement of said mast relative to said mast support; and

thrust means for locking said bracket members against relative movement laterally of one another when said mast is in said erect sailing position.

10. In combination:

a sailboat having a hull providing a mast support;

a mast;

a combination hinge and mounting bracket for securing the foot of said mast to said mast support including a lower bracket member secured to said mast support, an upper bracket member secured to the foot of said mast, and coacting quick release pivot means on said bracket members pivotally joining said members for rotation of said mast between an erect sailing position and a reclined position and free separation of said mast from said mast support by longitudinal movement of said mast relative to said mast support; and

said coacting pivot means comprise a pivot member carried by one of said bracket members, and a slot in the other member receiving said pivot member and terminating in an end bearing wall engaging said pivot member, whereby said mast is removable from said mast support by movement of said mast away from said mast support in a direction parallel to said slot.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein:

said slot extends parallel to the longitudinal center line of said mast, whereby said mast may be separated from said mast support by longitudinal movement of said mast away from said mast support.

12. The combination accordi ng to claim 10 wherein:

said coacting pivot means comprise a pair of spaced parallel flanges on one of said bracket members defining therebetween an intervening channel disposed in a fore and aft vertical plane of said boat, a flange on the other bracket member providing a tongue fitting in said channel to restrain said mast against rotation about its longitudinal center line and lateral movement of said mast relative to said boat, and a pivot member extending through said flanges.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein:

said pair of flanges comprise upstanding base flanges rising from the upper side of said lower bracket member, and said tongue flange depends from the underside of said upper bracket member,

said pivot member is laterally displaced from the longitudinal center line of said mast and intersects said flanges adjacent one end of said tongue flange and the corresponding ends of said base flanges, whereby said channel contains substantially the full length of said tongue flange when said upper bracket member occupies its sailing position, and said channel contains said one end only of said tongue flange when said mast occupies its reclined position, and

said pivot means comprise a pivot shaft secured to said base flanges and extending across said channel, and a slot in said one end of and opening at one end through the bottom edge of said tongue flange and terminating at its other end in a bearing wall engageabe with said pivot shaft.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein:

said bracket further comprises a thrust member joined to said base flanges and extending across said channel, and a second slot in and opening through the bottom edge of said tongue flange for receiving said thrust member when said mast occupies its sailing position to lock the foot of said mast against lateral movement in the fore and aft direction of said boat,

said thrust member and second tongue flange are located substantially along the longitudinal center line of said mast when said mast occupies its sailing position.

15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein:

the bottom edge of said tongue flange rests on said lower bracket member in the region between said base flanges to vertically support said mast in its erect position, and

said bottom edge of said tongue flange is rounded to permit fore and aft rocking of said mast.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 145,648 12 /1873 Hammond 114-91 3,099,976 8/1963 Schwaneke et al l149l TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

